Sail flaking system

ABSTRACT

A sail flaking system, comprising attachment points for receiving resilient band or elastic cord material. The attachment points are to be affixed in sets to a boat sail, the sets alternating from side to side on the sail. Each set of attachment points can then be joined by elastic cord/resilient band material, the elastic cord/resilient band material preferably sized to be under tension when the sail is raised. As the sail is lowered, the action of the resilient band/elastic cord material will pull on each set of attachment points creating a fold in the sail on the opposite side. The side-to-side alternation of these folds result in a flaked sail when the sail is fully doused.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a system for producing a self-flaking boatsail.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Sails are properly folded in alternating accordion-like layers. This istrue both for when the sail is left attached to the boat as well as whenthe sail is to be rolled up and stored in a sail bag or other protectivecovering. The term “flaking” is commonly used to describe this layeringtechnique.

If it is attached to a boom (a horizontal spar controlling the foot of asail), the sail, when not needed, can be flaked on the boom. On manyboats the mainsail is handled in this way. A sail attached to a stay,such as a jib, can also be flaked. This is the preferred method offolding a headsail for storage. And if the jib is “hanked on” (asopposed to being attached to the stay with a slide track), the flakingcan be done as the sail is lowered while still attached to the stay.

Two popular prior art devices for quickly and easily flaking a sail arethe Dutchman and lazyjacks. These devices are both practical and useful.They make sail handling easier and enhance safety—especially insituations when a sail must be brought down quickly. Lazyjacks and theDutchman control the sail and stow it in an orderly fashion. Thiseliminates the need for the crew to leave the safety of the cockpit andexpose themselves to potentially hazardous conditions. Yet there remainsroom for improvement. The Dutchman and lazyjacks are not suitable foruse with stay-supported sails, and the Dutchman can only be installed ona sailboat having a boom topping lift (which is replaced on many modernsailboats by rigid boom vangs). Furthermore, lazyjacks entail extralines that could become fouled or otherwise affect a boat's performance.

A simple and reliable arrangement that results in a self-flaking sailwould therefore be of value. The present invention provides such asolution. It results in a novel sail handling aid suitable for use withall types of sailboats—including racing or high-performance craft—whilealso being adaptable for both mast-supported and stay-supported sails.The preferred embodiments do not require a boom topping lift as does theDutchman, nor do they necessitate joining lines to the mast likelazyjacks.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description and drawings of the preferred embodiments.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention consists of attachment points for receivingelastic cord or resilient band material. The attachment points are to beaffixed to a boat sail. In a first embodiment, the attachment points arearrayed in sets along a single column situated at or near the luff (orleading edge) of a sail. At least two such attachment points occurbetween the slugs or batten cars of a mast-attached sail, or between thehanks of a hanked-on sail, more or less aligned parallel with the luff.Sets of attachment points should alternate from side-to-side on thesail. For example, two attachment points can be located on the starboard(i.e. right) side of the sail between the tack of the sail and the firsthank, and the next two attachment points can be located on the port(i.e., left) side of the sail between the first hank and the secondhank, and so on, for the full length of the luff—or for lust the portionor portions of the luff that is/are intended to be self-flaking. Inshort, a set of attachment points is preferably situated at every spotwhere a fold is desirable; the fold will occur on the side of the sailopposite the set of attachment points.

Each set of attachment points can then be joined by a length of elasticcord or resilient band material, such as that used for bungee cords.Because the sets of attachment points are arranged parallel to the luff,the elastic cord material will also be parallel to the luff if the sailis up. The lengths of elastic cord material are preferably sized so thateach is stretched—and therefore under tension—when the sail is raisedand the sail's halyard is cleated. As the sail is lowered, the tensionof the elastic cord segments—due to the port/starboard alternatingconfiguration of the sets of attachment points—will create alternatingfolds in the sail and thereby cause the luff to flake properly (providedthe sail is luffing at the time).

At small amount of straightening, usually amounting to some tugging atthe leech of the sail, is all that is then required for a perfectlyflaked sail.

When the sail is all the way down, and flaked, the lengths of elasticcord material will be in a relaxed, non-tensioned, state.

As an additional benefit, the tension provided by the resilient band orelastic cord material will assist in the dowsing of the sail byproviding a downward force in precisely the direction needed to pull thesail down. This downward force will to an extent counteract excessivehalyard friction and/or friction between slugs (or batten cars) and themast track. Neither the Dutchman nor lazyjacks can do this.

Furthermore, servicing and maintenance is easier than with prior artmethods because the attachment points and resilient band material can beaccessed while the sail is lowered, whereas the Dutchman and lazyjackscan only be serviced by going aloft.

An alternative embodiment may include sets of attachment points arrayedin side-to-side alternating rows extending along the sail from the luffto the leach for providing a more thorough self-flaking effect, as willbe described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sailboat's mainsail employing a preferredembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment in operation on apartially lowered mainsail.

FIG. 3. is a side view of a stay-supported sail employing a preferredembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a preferred embodiment in operation on apartially lowered stay-supported sail.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a flaked stay-supported sail.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an additional preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 is shown the port side of a mainsail 20 for a sailboat. Themainsail 20 has a head 21, being the top, a tack 22, being the leadingedge bottom corner, and a clew 23, being the trailing edge bottomcorner. The mainsail 20 further has a luff 24, being the leading edge, aleech 25, being the trailing edge, and a foot 26, being the bottom. Aboom (not shown) typically supports the foot 26 of this type of sail.

More or less evenly-spaced along the luff 24 are slugs 27 which engage atrack (not shown) in a mast (not shown). On larger sailboats, battencars are sometimes used in place of slugs 27 to reduce friction in themast track. Between the tack 22 and the lowermost (i.e., the one nearestthe foot 26) of the slugs 27 are attachment points 28. For thisembodiment the attachments points 28 are in sets of two forming a singlecolumn at or near the luff 24 and substantially parallel with the luff24. For other embodiments, the sets might be comprised of more than twoattachment points 28.

Each set of attachment points 28 is joined by a segment of elastic cordmaterial 29 of suitable length and strength. Sets of attachment points28 can be joined by more than one segment of elastic cord material 28 ifbeneficial for a given application.

In a simple embodiment of the present invention, the attachment points28 can be just cringles (reinforced holes) or thimbles in the sailthrough which the segment of elastic cord material 29 is reeved. (A knotin the end of the segment of elastic cord material 29 on the other sideof the mainsail 20 will keep the segment of elastic cord material 29 inplace.) Alternatively, a loop of rope sewn to the mainsail 20 would alsowork; the segment of elastic cord material 29 could then be tied to theloop. More sophisticated embodiments can employ attachment points 28constructed in one or more pieces from metal or a high-strength plastic.These could then be sewn or glued to the sail. Any suitable material isacceptable for the attachment points 28, as is any suitable means ormethod for fastening the attachment points 28 to a boat sail.

Similarly, each segment of elastic cord material 29 can be tied,clipped, or otherwise attached to its set of attachment points 28 by anyacceptable means or method. The primary consideration is that theattachment points 28 are both: (i) capable of being affixed to a sail;and (ii) capable of receiving resilient band/elastic cord material.

The size and shape of a particular sail, or the conditions in which thesail is to be put to use, might dictate the configuration and/orconstruction of the attachment points 28, as well as the means or methodof attaching each segment of elastic cord material 29 to its attachmentpoints 28.

Returning to FIG. 1, while there are attachment points 28 situated onthe mainsail 20 between the tack 22 and the lowermost of the slugs 27,there are no attachment points on the port side between the lowermost ofthe slugs 27 and the second lowermost of the slugs 27. The reason forthis is that the attachment points 28 between the lowermost of the slugs27 and the second lowermost of the slugs 27 are located on the opposite(i.e., starboard) side of the sail 20, in this particular embodiment. Onthe mainsail 20 of FIG. 1, the next attachment points 28 on the portside occur between the second and third lowermost slugs 27. It is thisside-to-side alternation of the sets of attachment points 28 thatproduces the flaking effect when the sail 20 is lowered.

As the halyard (not shown) for the mainsail 20 is eased, the luff 24will begin to slacken and each segment of elastic cord material 29 willbegin to pull its set of attachment points 28 towards one another. Thisis illustrated in FIG. 2. The action of each segment of elastic cordmaterial 29 creates a bulge—the beginning of a fold—in the mainsail 20on the side of the mainsail 20 opposite the attachment points 28. Due tothe alternating configuration of the attachment points 28, these foldsalternate from side-to-side. The leech 25 begins to collapse. When themainsail 20 is fully lowered onto the boom (not shown), the luff 24 willbe flaked. If needed, pulling on the leech 25 at the areas correspondingto the folds will result in a completely flaked sail.

The flaked mainsail 20 can then be tied to the boom with sail ties orgaskets.

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment adapted for use with astay-supported sail. A sail 30 is attached by hanks 31 to a stay 32.(Though not illustrated here, the two ends of the stay 32 are secured toa boat.) The sail 30 has a head 33, a tack 34, and a clew 35. The sail30 also has a luff 36, being the leading edge, a leech 37, being thetrailing edge, and a foot 38 being the bottom. Similar to the mainsail20 of FIG. 1, affixed to the sail 30 are attachment points 39 in sets oftwo arrayed in a single column at or near the luff 36 and more or lessparallel with it.

The sets of attachment points 39 are situated between the hanks 31 andalternate from side-to-side on the sail 30. (There is also a set ofattachment points 39 between the tack 34 and the lowermost of the hanks31 and between the uppermost of the hanks 31 and the head 33.)Generally, a set of attachment points 39 is placed at each locationwhere a fold in the sail 30 is desirable when the sail 30 is flaked.Each set of attachment points 39 is joined by resilient band material40. (More than one segment of resilient band material 40 can join a setof attachment points 39 if deemed appropriate for a given application.)

FIG. 4 shows the operation of this embodiment in a view from in front ofthe stay 32. This perspective shows the effect on both sides of the sail30. Because of the side-to-side alternation of the attachment points 39,a side-to-side folding (i.e., flaking) of the sail 30 begins to emergeas the sail 30 is lowered. The tension of each segment of resilient bandmaterial 40 acts to create a bulge in the sail 30. These bulges becomefolds as the sail 30 is lowered further.

When the sail 30 is all the way down as illustrated in FIG. 5, the luff36 flaked, and the resilient band material 40 is slack. At this pointstraightening tugs can be applied, if needed. The sail 30 can then beunhanked from the stay 32 and rolled up.

In FIG. 6 is drawn another embodiment wherein a sail 50 includesattachment points 51 arrayed in sets. The sail 50 has a luff 52, beingthe leading edge, and a leech 53, being the trailing edge. The sets ofattachment points 51 form rows extending generally from the luff 52 tothe leech 53. The rows alternate from side-to-side on the sail 50 (i.e.,from port to starboard). Each set of attachment points 51 is then joinedby one or more segments of resilient band material 54. Having multiplesets of attachment points 51 in rows as depicted in FIG. 6 will providea more complete self-flaking action when the sail 50 is lowered.

The preferred embodiments are also compatible with stay-mounted sailshaving a boltrope along the luff that is fed into a luff foil, asopposed to hanks. As a sail of this type of sail is lowered the portionof the sail below the bottom end of the luff foil will flake on thesailboat's deck by action of the resilient band/elastic cord material.As long as the sail is luffing, the crew lowering the sail need onlypull the sail down from the luff foil; the preferred embodiments willflake the sail.

Other modifications to the present invention are possible. For example,the lengths of resilient band or elastic cord can also be envelopedwithin panels of a flexible membrane affixed to the sail to minimize thepossibility of the resilient band/elastic cord material snagging, orbecoming otherwise fouled, on an extraneous obstruction.

Although the description above contains several specificities, theseshould not be construed as limits on the scope of the present invention.The details given are intended merely to provide illustrations of someof the presently preferred embodiments. It is to be therefore understoodthat many changes and modifications by one of ordinary skill in the artare considered to be within the scope of the invention. Thus, the fullscope should be determined by the appended claims and their legalequivalents, rather than by examples given.

1) A sail flaking system comprising attachment points for receivingsegments of elastic cord material; the attachment points for receivingelastic cord material to be affixed to a boat sail. 2) The sail flakingsystem of claim 1, wherein the attachment points for receiving elasticcord material are in sets; each set being joined by a segment of elasticcord material. 3) The sail flaking system of claim 1, wherein theattachment points for receiving elastic cord material are in sets, eachset being joined by a segment of elastic cord material; the attachmentpoints for receiving elastic cord material further being affixed to aboat sail. 4) The sail flaking system of claim 1, wherein the attachmentpoints for receiving elastic cord material are in sets; each setcomprised of at least two attachment points for receiving elastic cordmaterial. 5) The sail flaking system of claim 1, wherein the attachmentpoints for receiving elastic cord material are affixed to a boat sail;the attachment points for receiving elastic cord material further beingin sets; the sets alternating from side-to-side on the boat sail. 6) Thesail flaking system of claim 1, wherein the attachment points forreceiving elastic cord material are arrayed in sets along more or less asingle column situated at or near the luff of a boat sail. 7) The sailflaking system of claim 1, wherein the attachment points for receivingelastic cord material are arrayed in sets along more or less a singlecolumn situated at or near the luff of a boat sail; the sets ofattachment points further being in a side-to-side alternatingconfiguration. 8) A system for producing a self-flaking boat sail,comprising attachment points capable of being affixed to a sail; theattachment points further being capable of receiving resilient bandmaterial. 9) The system for producing a self-flaking boat sail of claim8, wherein the attachment points are in sets of at least two attachmentpoints. 10) The system for producing a self-flaking boat sail of claim8, wherein the attachment points are in sets of at least two attachmentpoints; the sets of at least two attachment points being fastened to aboat sail. 11) The system for producing a self-flaking boat sail ofclaim 8, wherein the attachment points are in sets of at least twoattachment points; the sets of at least two attachment points beingfastened to a boat sail; the sets of at least two attachment pointsfurther being joined by one or more segments of resilient band material.12) The system for producing a self-flaking boat sail of claim 8,wherein the attachment points are in sets of at least two attachmentpoints; the sets of at least two attachment points being fastened to aboat sail; the sets of at least two attachment points further beingjoined by one or more segments of resilient band material; the sets ofat least two attachment points alternating from side-to-side on the boatsail. 13) The system for producing a self-flaking boat sail of claim 8,wherein the attachment points are in sets of at least two attachmentpoints; the sets of at least two attachment points being fastened to aboat sail, the boat sail having a luff; the sets of at least twoattachment points further being joined by one or more segments ofresilient band material; the sets of at least two attachment pointsalternating from side-to-side on the boat sail; the sets of at least twoattachment points also being situated at or near the luff. 14) Thesystem for producing a self-flaking boat sail of claim 8, wherein theattachment points are in sets of at least two attachment points; thesets of at least two attachment points being fastened to a boat sail;the sets of at least two attachment points being situated at locationson the boat sail where a fold is desirable. 15) A sail flaking systemcomprising attachment points for receiving elastic cord material; theattachment points for receiving elastic cord material being affixed to asail in sets; the sail having a luff and a leech; the sets forming rowsextending generally from the luff to the leech.